Léopold Sédar Senghor
Léopold Sédar Senghor (/sɒŋˈɡɔːr/; French: [sɑ̃ɡɔʁ]; 9 October 1906 – 20 December 2001) was a Senegalese poet, politician and cultural theorist who was the first president of Senegal (1960–80).
Léopold Sédar Senghor | |
|---|---|
Senghor in 1978 | |
| 1st President of Senegal | |
| In office 6 September 1960 – 31 December 1980 | |
| Prime Minister | Abdou Diouf |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Abdou Diouf |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 October 1906 Joal, French West Africa (present-day Senegal) |
| Died | 20 December 2001 (aged 95) Verson, France |
| Political party | Socialist Party of Senegal |
| Spouse(s) | Ginette Éboué (1946–1956) ; his death |
| Alma mater | University of Paris |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | France |
| Branch/service | French Colonial Army |
| Years of service | 1939–1942 |
| Rank | Private 2e Classe |
| Unit | 59th Colonial Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Ideologically an African socialist, he was one of the major theoreticians of Négritude. Senghor was a proponent of African culture, black identity and African empowerment within the framework of French-African ties. He advocated for the extension of full civil and political rights for France's African territories while arguing that French Africans would be better off within a federal French structure than as independent nation-states.
Senghor became the first President of independent Senegal. He fell out with his long-standing associate Mamadou Dia who was Prime Minister of Senegal, arresting him on suspicion of fomenting a coup and imprisoning him for 12 years. Senghor established an authoritarian single-party state in Senegal where all rival political parties were prohibited.
Senghor was also the founder of the Senegalese Democratic Bloc party. Senghor was the first African elected as a member of the Académie française and won the 1985 International Nonino Prize in Italy. He is regarded by many as one of the most important African intellectuals of the 20th century.